ablebodied

Able-bodied is an adjective used to describe a person who is not considered disabled. In policy, medical, and everyday usage it typically refers to individuals who are assumed to have typical physical functioning and to be able to perform daily activities without significant impairment. The term is most often applied to adults and may be used to distinguish between groups in discussions of rights, eligibility for benefits, or access to services.

Origins and usage: The word combines "able" with "body" and has roots in historical classifications of people by physical capability. It appears in phrases such as "able-bodied adults" in legal or administrative texts, where disability status affects eligibility or accommodations. In contemporary language, it is sometimes preferred to terms like "non-disabled" or "people without disabilities" to avoid reducing individuals to a single functional trait.

Criticism and nuance: Disability advocates and scholars caution that "able-bodied" can reinforce a normative standard of normalcy and marginalize those with nonvisible or episodic conditions. It may imply superiority or independence as the default, which can obscure the varied experiences of disability. Language choices vary by context, and some prefer more precise descriptors of functioning or status, such as "non-disabled" or "persons with disabilities" depending on emphasis and tone.

See also: disability; ableism; non-disabled; disability rights; inclusive language.